Fern Lake Fire still blazing but its spread halted after size exploded

The Fern Lake fire, fanned by high winds, rages in Rocky Mountain National Park early Saturday. (Greg Wigler, Special to The Denver Post)

A park ranger updates an Estes Park resident on the progress of the Fern Lake fire Saturday. The fire ran to the east overnight Friday on strong winds that pushed sparks and flames into Moraine Park, prompting evacuations. (Walt Hester, Special to The Denver Post)

The Fern Lake fire advance has been halted to 3,584-acre swatch of Rocky Mountain National Park, after more than doubling in size early Saturday and forcing the evacuation of 583 homes, according to an information center monitoring the blaze.

Strong winds with gusts up to 75 miles-per-hour pushed the fire through lines set up to stop it early Saturday morning.

Fire crews were able to stop the blaze from crossing Bear Lake Road, according to the Joint Information Center.

An unoccupied, privately-owned cabin was destroyed, and others were threatened.

Snow is not in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

A red flag warning will be in place from noon Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday for the area.

"Warm and dry conditions coupled with increasing wind will raise the fire danger again this afternoon," according to the weather service web page. "The strong winds will continue over the mountains Front Range Foothills and South Park tonight."

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